VRINDAVAN

INTRODUCTION
Vrindavan is a sacred destination of the Hindus and is revered for of its association with the life of Lord Krishna. There are as many as 4,000 temples in Vrindavan, most of them dedicated to Lord Krishna.

NORTH INDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The basic structure of temples in India is a room or Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) where the idol of the main deity is kept. The temple is approached by a flight of steps and is often built on a platform. A porch covers the entrance to the temples, which is supported by carved pillars. A prominent roof called the shikhara surmounts the top of the Garbhagriha, and dominates the surroundings. As time went, by small temples grew into temple complexes. Some temples have a hall or mandap from where one can reach the sanctum sanctorum.

Temple architecture in India is broadly divided into northern and southern styles, classified by the form and shape of the shikhara and the distinctiveness of its decoration. The shikhara of the temples in South India tend to be made up of distinct horizontal levels that diminish to form a rough pyramid. Each level is decorated with miniature temple rooftops. Some temples from South India also have tall shikharas over the elaborate gateways or gopurams to add to the overall symmetry to the temple complex. The shikhara of the temples in North and Central India, in contrast, resembles an upturned cone that is decorated with miniature conical shikharas. Some temples developed their own local flavor apart from adhering to their basic native style.

There are about 4,000 big and small temples in the city of Vrindavan, apart from the numerous bathing ghats (long steps along the banks of sacred rivers, used by Hindus for ritual bathing). Most of the temples in Vrindavan belong to the North Indian style of temple architecture, while a few conform to a mixed style. Most of the temples now present in Vrindavan were constructed after AD 1000, while some of them are of very recent origin.

TEMPLES OF VRINDAVAN
Most of the temples of Vrindavan are dedicated to Lord Krishna, a principal Hindu deity. According to Hindu mythology, Krishna spent his childhood in Vrindavan, though he was born in a nearby place called Mathura. It is in Vrindavan that he is said to have spent a great deal of his time in play and mischief.

One of the most important and vibrant temples in Vrindavan is the Bankey Bihari Temple. The Bankey Bihari Temple houses a sacred image of Lord Krishna known as Thakkur Ji, which shows Krishna with an almost blackened body. Devotees enter the shrine room carrying garlands of flower petals and offer them to the spirit of the statue as Brahmins (priests) move back and forth in front of the icon, occasionally drawing across the curtain to shroud the icon for a moment. The curtain is then drawn back and a great cry of Thakkur Ji! issues forth from the crowd. The main hall and the sanctum sanctorum of this temple are decorated with floral carvings.

The Govind Dev Temple is another important temple of Vrindavan and was built in AD 1590 by Raja Man Singh (one of the Hindu generals of the great Mughal Emperor Akbar). This bulky red sandstone temple is one of the most impressive temples in Vrindavan. It is also architecturally one of the most advanced temples in the whole of north India. Originally, this temple had seven stories out of which the top four floors were torn down during the time of the Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb (the last great Mughal ruler), who doubtless considered the place as one of idolatry. However, what remains of this red sandstone edifice, particularly its vaulted ceiling, is impressive.

The towering Rangaji Temple is another important temple of Vrindavan and dates back to AD 1851. This temple is a bizarre mixture of architectural styles, which includes a Rajput-styled (architectural style prevailing in the present Indian state of Rajasthan) entrance gate, a soaring South Indian-styled gopuram (gateway tower), and an Italian-influenced colonnade. One of the enclosures within the precincts of this magnificent temple has a 15-meter-high pillar made of gold.

Apart from the above-mentioned temples, Vrindavan also has some modern temples. The towering temple of Pagal Baba, a gleaming white edifice, has eleven stories in all and is one of the more modern examples of architecture to be found in Vrindavan. This temple was built by Pagal Baba (mad saint), who died a few years back. His infectious spirit lingers on in the playfulness of his disciples who are ready to welcome one and all into the temple interior. The top floors of this temple provide a good view of the surrounding area. However, on the ground floor, there is an exhibition of puppets, some mechanized to move occasionally making simple gestures. The puppets depict scenes from two great Hindu epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the latter being the record of Lord Krishna's time. This eleven-storied white edifice soars high into the sky, as if trying to reach it.

One of the most impressive of temples is another new construction, the ISKCON Temple (ISKCON: International Society of Krishna Consciousness), which was built with funds from devotees overseas. The temple is actually a group of buildings, made of marble, with intricate carvings on them. This temple owes its existence to Swami Prabhupada, a Hindu devotee born in Bengal in 1896. The followers of the ISKCON movement from all over the world visit this temple.

However, the majority of the remaining temples in Vrindavan cannot be visited, for they are now used as private homes.

Typical expressions of Braj culture

Sanjhee
This is the colourful art of decorating the ground with flowers. The story goes that Shri Krishna in order to please Radha, decorated the floor with flowers one evening and thereafter this art was known as Sanjhee.

Raaslila
According to the Bhagwat Purana, Shri Krishna along with the gopis had danced the Raas on the banks of the Yamuna at Vrindavan. When the gopis felt conceited about Lord Krishna dancing with them, he disappeared from their midst. In the agony of separation from the beloved Krishna, the gopis recalled and enacted his lilas (divine episodes of his life) which in course of time came to be known as the Raaslila. The Raaslila in its present form is ascribed to Swami Haridas and Shri Narayan Bhatt. Only young Brahmin boys of 13 to 14 years of age can perform the Raaslila. The charming childhood pranks of Shri Krishna constitute the main theme of these dramas.

Charkula
This is a traditional folk dance of Braj, where a female dancer balances a column of lighted lamps over her head while dancing. The charkula, a tapered wooden column with four to five circular tiers has earthen lamps on each level. The number of lamps can range from 51 to 108 at times. The dancer with her face veiled, moves with swift, graceful movements while balancing the 40 to 50 kilogram charkula on her head. A dramatic dance that is visually attractive, it is performed on the Dooj of Holi, to the accompaniment of Rasiya songs rendered by the menfolk.

Rasiya
This is the rich tradition of folk-songs that is found in the Braj area. Rasiya songs describe the love of the divine couple Radha and Shri Krishna. It is an inseparable part of the Holi celebrations and all other festive occasions at Braj. The Rasiya is sung to the rhythm of huge drums, locally known as bumb.